Essure Procedure for Permanent Birth Control

Women's Health Center of Northfield Hospital is now offering the Essure procedure in our clinic.

What is Essure?
The Essure procedure is a sterilization procedure for women that is performed by an Essure trained doctor. Unlike tubal ligation and vasectomy, there are no incisions. Instead, micro-inserts are passed through the body's natural pathways (vagina, cervix and uterus) and placed into your fallopian tubes.

During the first 3 months following the procedure, your body and the micro-inserts work together to form a tissue barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. During this period, you will need to use another form of birth control.

After 3 months, your doctor will perform a special type of x-ray test called an HSG to confirm that your tubes are completely blocked and you can rely on the Essure micro-inserts for birth control.

Essure Works With Your Body

Unlike vasectomy or tubal ligation, Essure makes the choice for permanent birth control easy, because of all the advantages it offers:

  • 99.80% effective, based on five years of clinical data
  • No incisions
  • No hospitalization
  • Performed in the privacy and comfort of our clinic
  • Hormone free
  • No general anesthesia or associated risks
  • Fast recovery
  • Confirmation test gives you piece of mind that your tubes are blocked

During the three months after the procedure, your body and the micro-insert work together to form a tissue barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. The micro-inserts do not contain or release hormones and are made with the same materials used in other medical products for many years. For example, these materials have been used in blood vessel grafts, heart valve replacements, and abdominal repair.

Safety and Effectiveness
The Essure procedure has undergone significant clinical testing in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Data from clinical testing show that Essure is 99.80% effective in preventing pregnancy. Additionally, 92% of women who relied on Essure rated their long-term satisfaction with Essure as "somewhat satisfied" to "very satisfied" at 3 years of follow-up. Over 60,000 women have chosen Essure to date.

The Essure Procedure: Key Risks and Considerations

As with all medical procedures, Essure may not be suitable for all women and there are risks associated with Essure. The following are the key risks associated with Essure:

  • The procedure should be considered irreversible
  • Like all methods of birth control, the Essure procedure should not be considered 100% effective
  • Not all women who undergo the Essure procedure will achieve successful placement of both micro-inserts
  • You must use another method of birth control for at least three months after the procedure
  • The Essure procedure is newer than other procedures
  • Removal of the Essure micro-inserts would require a procedure

Additional information about the Essure procedure is available at www.essure.com or by calling the Essure Information line at 1-877-ESSURE1.

Women's Health Center is a Service of Northfield Hospital

OB/GYN Services Provided by Cannon Valley Clinic Providers Mayo Health System